RealGM

Do NOT vote or discuss in this thread until BdeRegt and Laimbeer have posted their writeups.

When the write ups are posted, a 24 hour poll will be posted to determine the winner.

Voting is open.

Good luck to Laimbeer and thanks for running this.

Magic Johnson 38 / Reggie Jackson 10
Jerry Stackhouse 36 / Adrian Dantley 12
Glen Rice 30 / Adrian Dantley 18
Chris Webber 24 / Spencer Haywood 24
Bill Laimbeer 36 / Chris Webber 12

Team Summary:
I have built an absolute offensive juggernaut. It starts with by far the best player available in this draft with the #1 pick in Magic. He will be running the show, getting the team out on the break, setting up for the other scores, and scoring his own. I don't think any other team has close to the offensive potential of my team. Surrounding Magic in the starting line up, I have assembled an elite group of shooters. I can surround a Magic/Webber pick and roll or pop with great shooters in Stackhouse, Glen Rice, and Laimbeer. Webber himself can't extend to the the 3 but has a great mid-range game. This frees up Magic to attack the paint.

My spacing also helps when I go to the bench. Reggie Jackson will mainly be used as a spot up shooter but my 6th and 7th men should never be on anyone's bench. First, Adrian Dantley is one of the most natural scorers basketball has ever seen. He led the league in scoring multiple seasons averaging over 30 a game. Spacing will allow him to attack at his best getting to the basket and FT line. He is coming off the bench to space minutes with Magic so one of them is always on the floor. Spencer Haywood was the MVP and scoring/rebound champ of the ABA as a rookie. He continued this strong performance in the NBA as an All-NBA performer.

Now, I am sure people are going to point to 2 weaknesses on my team, intangibles and defense. For intangibles, I trust any locker room with Magic and Laimbeer that there will be no locker room issues. For defense, Laimbeer was an amazing defensive rebounder which I think is one of the biggest things to cover for a bad defense. Ultimately, we will play match ups and out score everyone else we play.

Match up specific:
First, although Isiah is an amazing player, he is not on the same level as Magic so believe my team has an edge among the superstars.

Guarding his team, Webber is athletic enough to guard Draymond on the perimeter and Laimbeer will keep Wallace off the offensive glass to eliminate 2nd chance points as much as possible against Ben Wallace. Billups is only person on his team that scares me shooting from the perimeter as Rip is better at the mid range game so feel I will be able to pack the paint to contain penetration. Finally, if their offense really gets rolling and the opportunity arises, I would not be against hacking Big Ben.

On my offense, Big Ben will be put in a lot of screens to try to bring him away from the basket. When he isn't in the action, Laimbeer will be used on the perimeter still to take Big Ben away from the basket. Draymond could make life difficult on my Webber/Magic screen game. However, Draymond's most valuable because of his ability to switch. This will contain Magic as I think Draymond would guard him pretty well, but Webber would destroy any of his guards down low.

I think this is a close match up and ultimately my offense will be able to overpower his elite defense.

Congrats on building a very potent squad and good luck, BdeRegt.

Wallace 38 / Edwards 10
Green 38 / Edwards 6 / DeBusschere 4
DeBusschere 28 / Aguirre 20
Billups 36 / Hamilton 12
Thomas 36 / Hamilton 12

Team Summary:

I believe this is a well constructed team. First there's the incredible intangibles - the DNA. This would be a fantastic team to coach. Every player is a champion and had a significant role on their title team. Isiah and Chauncey are great leaders.

The defense is outstanding, particularly the interior with Wallace and Green. DeBusschere made several first team all-D, while Billups and Isiah are capable defenders.

On offense, Isiah is an elite playmaker and scorer. I'm comfortable Chauncey has the tools to be a very effective two guard when they're on the floor together. And when it's Chauncey and Rip, they'll do their thing. Chauncey, Draymond, and DeBuss provide solid spacing on the starting unit while Ben is a demon at the offensive glass. There's also an instant-offense player off the bench for every position - Buddha, Rip, and Aguirre. Rip and Aguirre are versatile scorers who also provide spacing. Buddha brings a long body and low post game.

Match up specific:

This matchup reminds me a bit of the 2004 Pistons/Lakers Finals. A cohesive, defensive minded unit against some big guns who had one ball to play with and never gelled.

Laimbeer is a rock solid low post defender and rebounder but he's about it on the interior. There is no rim protector while Webber and Dantley have questionable effort on that end. Magic, Stackhouse and Rice are nothing special and Reggie is quite suspect. Not a good defensive team. I don't see anyone that can keep Isiah from a big game.

On offense, Webber and Haywood are redundant and need the ball as does Dantley. Without a lot of playmaking responsibility, Chauncey should do a credible job on Magic. I'd switch DeBuss out on him a bit when Rice is at the three and let Rip or Chauncey take Glen. Draymond and Ben make a stellar defensive interior.

Defense, intangibles, and players who can excel without the ball win this one.

Again I think Stackhouse is exposed here. Can't shoot well from 3 and is most effective with ball in hand

Ain't no one stopping Thomas, Billups & Rip as a combo & I think the other positions are evenly matched...

Chauncey with the game winner after Stackhouse loses the ball off his foot

This is a matchup win for Laimbeer. A scoring machine team isn't going to get much against Big Ben and Draymond, and both of those guys are awesome in P&R defense, so that won't work either. It'll come down to scoring in transition and from outside, and BdeRgt's team isn't elite at that at all. You can't exhaust a team with that many great athletes and solid defenders.

Isiah Thomas would score a billion points in this matchup, as there's no one with speed or defensive intensity to slow him down.

Looks like I take a 2-1 barnburner.

Thanks all it was fun.

Congrats to Laimbeer. Definitely think he built the best team. I ended up with way too much firepower and not a great fit.